It has been a hectic 24 hours for those of a Chelsea persuasion. Xabi Alonso is set to become Chelsea manager, but his announcement follows an FA Cup final defeat to Marc Guehi’s Man City.
Within moments of the full-time result, reports emerged that Alonso will become BlueCo’s fifth choice as manager and their sixth permanent gaffer. It is the first time BlueCo have appointed a ‘manager’.
Imagine if we signed Antoine Semenyo! 😩
Man City's FA Cup hero was linked with a move to the Blues back in January…
Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City
Photo by Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
It comes incredibly soon after Chelsea’s loss to Man City, in which Antoine Semenyo scored the only goal of the game. Calum McFarlane watched his side match Man City for much of the game, but lose 1-0.
Eventually, City’s class proved too much in a hotly contested game with chances for both sides and controversy throughout. It sees Marc Guehi retain the FA Cup after winning it with Crystal Palace in 2025.
What Marc Guehi did after full-time with Chelsea staff
Of course, Guehi came through Chelsea’s academy before eventually leaving for Palace. He joined the Blues youth set-up aged just seven and would permanently leave 13 years later, playing only two games.
Chelsea v Manchester City - Emirates FA Cup Final
Photo by Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images
Now considered England’s best defender, Guehi was excellent as Pep Guardiola secured an early double, having already won the Carabao Cup. Guehi has not forgotten his time at Chelsea, though.
In a video posted by The FA Cup’s official channel on X, Guehi shook hands with all of Chelsea’s staff members before sharing a brief embrace with Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah, who was a substitute.
Calum McFarlane has just one win in six as Chelsea manager
Saturday’s FA Cup final was remarkably only McFarlane’s sixth game as a senior manager and his second trip to Wembley in those six matches. Only once has McFarlane tasted victory on the touchline as gaffer.
Defeats to Fulham, Nottingham Forest, and now Man City comes alongside a previous draw with City and last weekend’s 1-1 stalemate with Liverpool. The only game he has won is the 1-0 victory over Leeds.
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Chelsea v Manchester City - Emirates FA Cup Final
Photo by Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images
That is not a criticism of McFarlane, nor is it on his shoulders. But it highlights just how big a task that Alonso has when he does start work on July 1. The standards have dropped at Chelsea in recent seasons.
If he is to achieve anything, Alonso has to galvanise this squad and restore a winning mentality lost under BlueCo’s stewardship. His first game will come against Western Sydney Wanderers on July 28.
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